(CNN) - The maker of a Google app thinks it's fun to make yourself look Asian by changing the shape of your eyes and wearing a Fu Manchu mustache and rice paddy hat.

Another app - "Make Me Indian" - makes you a Native American with brown skin, war paint and a feather headband.

“This is just a fun app (that) lets you indulge you and your friends," says the description of the "Make Me Asian" app created by user KimberyDeiss and available on Google Play.

"You can for a few seconds to make (yourself) a Chinese, Japanese, Korean or any other Asians," the description says.

Not amusing or cute, say Asian-American organizations that launched a petition to get Google to remove both apps.

The apps use dated and racist stereotypes of Asians and Native Americans, said the online campaign 18 Million Rising, named after the number of Asian-Americans in the United States.

“These racist and offensive portrayals of Asians and Native Americans perpetuate damaging racial stereotypes and should not be distributed on the Google play store," said the campaign, which has an online petition to remove the apps.

Google, however, said the apps are not in violation of the company's policies that protect against hate speech.

"We don't comment on individual apps," Google said in a statement. "We remove apps from Google Play that violate our policies."

KimberyDeiss makes other photo-altering apps including "Make Me Old" and "Make Me Fat." There's also "Make Me Russian" and "Make Me Irish," which play off stereotypes.

But the furor in the Asian-American community, sparked a few weeks ago, is growing. Blogs, including Angry Asian Man, have reinforced the call to remove the apps.

why do you stupid people think ALL asians are offended? people complain about everything. fat white people complained about the depiction of a fat man in a local commercial. Do you think I got my panties in a bunch thinking that ALL fat people IN THE WORLD complained about this commercial? LOL. Who cares if fifteen asians complain about an app. that's life. you REALLY can't understand why a few people might be offended by this app? DEAL WITH IT. GET OVER YOURSELF.

The app isn't that big of a deal. Kind of funny, like those AF t-shirts. What's more interesting is the racism you see in the comments you see right here. But even that doesn't really matter, it ain't like Chinese Americans will rise up and complain. Chinese people have been immigrating into the United States since the early 1800's, how many times have you heard of them asking for civil rights or complain about racism or complain about anything. They let the other minorities do the heavy lifting and they sit back and enjoy what others fight for.

I agree, Yusef! I am flabbergasted by the ignorance and racism in these posts. This is simply a matter or respect, for all people. I too am heartened by Google's speedy removal of this app. BTW, white Americans, are you that paranoid by being the minority of the world? Get with the program!!!

Asians dismiss the whole white race as uneducated, and we don't protest. And stop trying to make the African-Americans to get offended, they won't. Because we love thick lips, and tanned skin, and they have a sense of humor.

Holy Cow Batman humanity has lost it's sense of humor and "politically correct" is destroying our City! Get a life folks each ethnic group and culture has something "different" and unique that is not easily expressed. To shut down communication because someone things someone is making fun of someone is so silly.....get a life!

I don't get it. When we as american's try to force immigrants to conform to our way of life it makes us racist. Now when we try to adopt another culture by putting on rice paddy hats and Fu Manchus, that's racist too? They aren't happy no matter what!

Oh brother. If there's any group that needs to lighten up and get a sense of humor, it's Asians. You guys don't like it? Tough. If it's that bad then move back to China where you can lavish in non-stop censorship....and clog THEIR streets with lousy drivers and dog haters.

This comment is offensive. It is ignorant people like you who anger people with their stereotyping of ethnicities. As a person of an Asian heritage, I am proud to have a different background. I do not appreciate it when people just assume you are "Chinese" since Asia is the biggest continent. Not all Asians are Chinese. Technically, Russia is considered to be a part of Asia as well.

Someone has a reading-comprehension problem, you means Chris and klasjdf & Co. You have the same elegance in using invective as a way of dialogue. Yet you get upset everyone believes that the Asians lack a healthy sense of humor and look down on other people. It's just that you are more obtuse and brainwashed than the people in the countries where you emigrate.

This app makes people look more Russian than asian, so are any Russians getting offended? Yes, the hat is a bit Cheesy, though, and I'm stunned they put that in there. I've never seen ANY asian who had a mouth like that...Looks like Gorbachev.

This article is horribly misleading. It implies that Google created the App. It did not. It also implies, on the original link, that ALL google apps are offending people, when it is only One app, by One person.

Not to mention, maybe I'm missing something here, but is it not an app that you can download only if you want it? Is anybody forced to download it?

Seriously, would white people be offended if they made an app that made black people look white by lightening the skin and shrinking the lips and nose, or made Asians look white by making the eyes round? Of course not. This is just stupid people being offended because they have nothing better to do.

It does seem a little offensive. This is what you would look like if you were Asian? Really? So if I go get some creative plastic surgery on my eyes and wear a hat I will look Asian? Hunh. It just seems like a really stupid app and probably will not last long anyway.

As a Chinese American, I fully support the author's right to make this App and Google right to allow it to publish. The first amendment doesn't specify that free speech is only allowed when it's not offensive. That's why the KKK is allowed to have rallies. It should be left to the people to decide for him or herself what is acceptable. If you find it offensive, don't download it.

.. how you guys post on these walls, all enlightened and not offended, and it looks like there are so many of you. However, judging by the real protests, you, as the voice of millions, do not exist in reality.

I know you consider us stupid, and would like to protest, yell offended slogans, but in the same time remain in the good graces of the American folk. But we are not THAT stupid!

This isn't an issue of government censorship, it's a legitimate complaint to a company that makes a product, and a company that allows the product to run on its devices. There is nothing wrong with people complaining to a company that their products/business practices are in poor taste, Why does everyone get so uptight about behaving like adults?

Mixed race children are the cause of many congenital defects.... like Hemophilia , Diabetes, and Autism Glad my kids aren't mixed race ! The gene pool needs to be kept small so it can flourish. (mixing Hispanic and white will cause many blood diseases, because they are different in their dna and species)

Reef your dog analogy is flawed. The amount of selective breeding that is required to breed out genetic diseases would require huge majorities for all races not to have children. Even if they were having kids within their own race.

Just looking at the way the Asian parents treat their children makes us want to call social services to report child abuse. But we don't, because we understand that there is the American parenting way, the tiger mom's parenting way, and other ways.
We understand that we can't just protest ways of life different than our own, just because we do not agree with them!

You guys are the most instigative and racist group. You spew the most offensive stereotypes, like the ones about the superior parenting, superior kids, and you change America.

As an European I look at the American vs. Asian parenting and see a healthy vs. a sick way of parenting, the parents who helps the kids raise and fly vs., the ones sticking their claws into their kids for a free old-age ride. And similarly the results: happy free-thinkers innovators, vs the stiff executors.

I loved the American school as it was before you changed it, because it created the most teach-able, intelligent and creative worker after they left their colleges.

The app should be called, how to make people Chinese. Not all Asian countries had fu Manchu mustache and conical straw hat tradition. Clearly not in my country. Chinese or vietnamese culture doesn't represent all Asia.

Although I don't know any asians... I read about them on c n n and other sites. They need to learn English, get a job, and stop complaining about their civil rights - they are the worst group to do that.

It's too bad you got that impression from CNN. Asians typically have higher income per household that American natives, including Whites. Income in Indian households is close to twice that of Whites. Also, I don't know any Asians that are easily offended by racial issues. I don't know many that wouldn't find this app funny!

It must be painful to look at the mirror and not like what you see. I am sorry!
Insulting other people will not make your pathetic existance any better. Every time you try to insult somebody you hurt yourself. No oen takes people like you seriously. You need to work do something for yourself and your self steem. Try working out or getting a GED. It might work.

The Anime and Manga series after series – the mainland of the Asian cartoon industry – should then be the most offending thing; they depict their characters (the Asians) with white traits (wide eyes, blue and green eyes, etc.)

Did you hear any of the Asians complaining? This is a serious questions – are they trying to make us feel like caricatures?

It's too bad there can't just be one race... the human race. Instead there's all these different races and species.
A white man could not get a kidney/heart transplant from a Hispanic man , because the DNA is too different.
Like giving a cat the heart from a fish.

@ Adam: at least it's the truth. Would you accept a kidney/heart from an Asian ? Even if you wanted to do that... the DNA is too different and diverse. Like getting a transplant from an earthworm and expecting it to work in your body.

Yes, precisely... It's exactly like giving a cat the heart of a fish, or a human the heart of an earthworm. By chance, were you given the brain of a paramecium? Your trolling is outrageously offensive (and a little hilarious). Kudos!

You really need to read more before spewing out all your ignorant nonsense. Most organs transplants are typed by blood type, not DNA. So a person of any race can donate organs to another "human" regardless of race as long as their blood types match. Genetic diversity ensures survival of the species. So mixed race people have greater genetic diversity and will not perpetuate defective genes to their offsprings. If you don't believe it, how do you explain the European royal families passing on genetic diseases like hemophilia for so many generations?

Since the description of the app is "fun app", I would put more emphasis on "fun", not "emulation", whichever it is, I would not care much though. I just don't think people should be so easily offended.

Even the Chinese have no idea that India is in Asia and they offend other Asians by their ignorance.
Asian Indians from eastern part look like Chinese, from South look like Africans and from North are whites...

Isi it in bad taste? Yes. Is it offensive? Not so much. Is it racist? No. Some people have poor taste and others over-react to poor taste. It's not racists as it doesn't meet the simpel test: is it exploiting a race or prejudicing people? No.

I want an app called "Make me the chose one" and see how I would look with a big crooked nose, deep set beedy eyes, and a balding hair. However it would be anti semit ism and no one would defend that app

While China just completed the world's longest high speed rail system, we made an App that offend our own citizens. While we still argue about the fiscal cliff with nothing done and no end in sight, China keeps coming out with news of accomplishments week after week, from aircraft carrier, to joint Australian-China military drills, 2nd woman in space in 2013, etc.

Please – it's easy to pick and choose like this to make a statement that you prefer, but there are also still far more people living in abject poverty without access to basic medical care in China. And on issues of human rights, equality and fairness you are delusional if you think China has outpaced us. I've been to and lived in Asian countries and they don't even try to hide their contempt for whites. Those who feel that way simply refuse service, yell at you on the subway, make a big X with their arms and tell you that you're not welcome and 'bad', sneer, heckle, leer, offer money for intimacy (because all white women are 'easy').

You just don't know what you are talking about. You see things through a very 'American' lens. We judge ourselves harshly for racism in this country because fairness and equality is what we value as a people. We hold ourselves to that standard and that is the reason why we talk about it and enact legislation to deal with it. But in many other countires it is not addressed at all, there aren't laws or even discussions. Don't fool yourself into thinking that the Chinese are all wound up over whether all races are treated fairly over there because the aren't. They got bit with the ambition bug and are trying desperately to get to the top, but in many ways they are not doing it fairly. They rely on stealing western ideas to progress and manipulating world currency and proping up industries in their own contry to give them unfair advantage.

agreed, i remember when i was young taking pictures of myself and friends using the mac and distorting our faces its silly fun to see what you would look like... its just a what if. no one is trying to discriminate against you. its not hate speech if anything its flattery that people wanna see what they would look like if they were a different race. people blowing this way out of proportion. Stop being ridiculous and focus on the real problems out there... cause there are a lot. and they could definitely use the media coverage instead of media coverage being wasted on this.

it looks like the Asians only feel offended when i fits them. Stereotypes are ok while they are looking down on the "uneducated" and fat whites. Stereotypes are ok when they have plastic surgeries and acquire white people traits. Stereotypes are acceptable when tiger moms point out, under thin pretexts, why they raise superior kids. This protest is hypocrisy at its best.

Our culture pokes fun at people – look at our stand-up comedy to see how embedded this is in our culture, and how different our entertainment is from the Asians'. Because we know how to make fun of ourselves we are tolerant to various forms of entertainment. Changing this would change the fabric of our nature; imagine if we continue on this path and the whites start mass protests and little protests for all the whites-related stereotypes. I don't want to discover one day that I woke up in China.

Yup, another wasteful story brought on by another wasteful, ultra-sensitive special interest group with butt-holes so tight you can front a drum corp. It would be a safe bet that 99% of those who are Asian have no issues with this what-so-ever! Loosen up people....

If it would "blow up" my lips I would love it! We pay big bucks to have this done, with fillers, in a Dr's office. If it would darken my skin I would love it too; we try to get tanned skin with the risk of skin cancers!! If it would make my hair curly? Think about how many of white women get perms. I very much doubt an African-American would be as offended as you are by this app.

You see, the "offense" is in the eye of the beholder. It's only offensive if YOU see the trait as embarrassing.

What if a child sees the app and repeats the actions at schools as children often imitate adults? Please think beyond the app and be responsible for your actions and things we create when have the ability to create something. I find this series of apps very disappointing.

If they were only 1% then we wouldn't have to pay them any attention... Just saying maybe that's a visage [some] people imagine the republican majority to portray and if it's acceptable to make Asians or Indians look a certain way in the app and have people defend it... Why not republicans?

I'll be offended by this just as soon as the liberal media apologizes for constantly referring to republicans as the party of "old white men" as if that's some sort of demonic evil. Notice they never referred to democrats as the party of "poor brown people".

After going to Angry Asian Man's website and finding it to be the most Hong-Kong Fooey-esque thing I have ever seen, I find it ironic that he would even mention that the app is offensive. His whole site is offensive and promotes the same stereotypes. If you don't have the backbone to stand for the values you're complaining about, then shut up.

Going after google over this is nonsense.
As they said, it "Technically" isn't a violation of their terms, and because google is an open platform where anyone can post anything it doesn't make sense to attack them.
Attack the idiot who made the apps. She has the power to remove it and if any apologies should be given, they should come from her, not google.

For decades, Asians have been reaping the benefits of being the lapdogs of the white majority, being the quiet little sidekick that does as they're told and keeps quiet. Asians have lapped up the affection of the whites who see them as being the pleasant opposite of the meddling blacks and Latinos. Their reward; being cast the official Model Minority and marrying white males by the hundreds.'

But that was then, and this is now. As the Asian population grows in America, you will start to see the reality of diversity in numbers. The more Asians you have in America, the more likely you will get vocal ones who are tired of being spat on by whites and then pat on the head like little children when they don't complain. Asians are no different than blacks, Latinos, or any other group that has been the target of slurs; its just that they didn't have the numbers to step up and take on the white majority. But a funny thing is happening; whites are on the decline, Obama is a 2 term president and, guess what, Asians where the 2nd highest voting block for Obama (yes, even higher than Latinos).

Actually, Asians have been rewarded by capitalism for being intelligent, useful and productive. This app was apparently made with the maturity of a third grader. Third graders are built to be offensive

Just going to throw this out there, Mike, but you'd probably be offended by an app called "Make Me Illiterate", since you don't know the difference between "breath" and "breathe". Indulging in these mindless stereotypes is what keeps these "groups", as you call them (really, you mean "people who don't look like me") from simply relating to each other as people.

I can tell you whites would not care if such an app existed we tend to not get offended as much or as easily as non whites do. Mike is on the money it's hard to do a thing without making somebody whining.

Making yourself look white is one of the largest industries in Korea. Look it up. Thanks to half white pop stars over there every urban woman is getting eye lid surgery and other cosmetic operations to look more white. I wouldn't say I agree with it, but I'm sure not offended.

Oh my God. Get over it already. Everyone is offended by something. Put on our big boy/girl panties and deal with it. You smiled at me, I am offended. You made a joke, I am offended. Guess what? I do not care if I offend you. Stop crying and learn to laugh. I am willing to bet my bank account that those same Asian Americans do or say something that offends someone else.

this is as stupid as it gets. it looks stupid any ways, it's a joke. i think it would be cool to see your self as a different ethnic groups. this is all in fun. don't you think it would be amusing to see your self as a white person, especially a "typical" what ever white person! a middle age person, a red neck, a preppy, a hippie i mean you could go on. lighten up!!!

The headline for this article on the front page of the site is "Asians call Google Apps Offensive." Notice the pluralization of apps. This gives the impression that Google is doing something on a large scale offensive to Asians. You get into this article, and all it talks about is a single app. Whether intentional or not, this is misleading and should be fixed, lest you be deemed doing little more than trying to dupe people into reading a waste of an article about an app that no one would have heard about until you wrote an article about it.

Totally agree with Fluffy. This isn't worth a CNN story. What about the economy? What about the fiscal cliff? I think those are extremely urgent for everyone, not just a specific segment of the US population.

This app in itself is not really racist. It's how it is used. If it is used to mock people because of their ethnicity than that is racism/prejudice.

Morphing faces into different ethnicities in itself is not racist. I've seen it done in mainstream commercials and it's standard practice to start with a basic human 3D model (either Michael or Victoria) and then morph their ethnicities to create a final product.

So, how come this year, while Christmas shopping, I stumble across a Chinese-made, American Indiana kids "outfit". It was bubble-packed and contained a head band with a couple of feathers, a knife, a tomahawk and a fake scalp. Made by the Chinese....

We have a thing called "double standard" in this country. It's ok when they do it. Just not when you do it. They have feelings and sensitivities whereas you and American Indians are assumed to have none.

First of all, somewhere along the line, orientals hijacked the term "Asian" to refer exclusively to peoples who used to be called "oriental". Asia is a gigantic continent that encompasses far more than countries inhabited by orientals, i.e. people with slanted eyes and yellow skin. Asia also includes India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and two dozen other non-oriental countries. Orientals are not the only Asians and do not have an exclusive right to the term "Asian". Orientals should go back to being referred to as orientals.

As a non-oriental Asian, I take offense at this misappropriation of the term "Asian". Oh, and as an Asian, I do not take offense at the app mentioned in the above article. I think it's totally fine.

You're missing the point. Just because they (and I assume you) are offended at a term that happens to be the proper terminology (meaning "of the East"), it doesn't give them the right to hijack the name of an entire continent and make it exclusive to themselves. As an Asian, I am offended by that.

I understand your point. My point is that I'd prefer to be called what I am, Korean. Not lumped into some large group of cultural ambiguity. Some people believe the term is antiquated, pejorative, and disparaging due to its usage in the United States.

"The word ‘oriental’ does not describe ethnic origin, background or even race; in fact, it has deep and demeaning historical roots." – Governor David A. Patterson, New York"

... and for the record I am not offended by the app. Political correctness is slowly and surely killing this country. At some point we seem to have mixed up facts and opinions. Most Asians have thinner eyes, that's a fact. Pointing it out is simply an acknowledgement of that. Pretending as if it doesn't exist is just ridiculous.

What's next? Will G.I. Joes also be considered racist to Asians because they have kung-fu grips? C'mon people.

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What defines you? Maybe it’s the shade of your skin, the place you grew up, the accent in your words, the make up of your family, the gender you were born with, the intimate relationships you chose to have or your generation? As the American identity changes we will be there to report it. In America is a venue for creative and timely sharing of news that explores who we are. Reach us at inamerica@cnn.com.